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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Bimodal distribution of sensitivity to SCE induction by diepoxybutane in human lymphocytes. I. Correlation with chromosomal aberrations.

Authors: Wiencke, J K; Christiani, D C; Kelsey, K T

Published In Mutat Res, (1991 May)

Abstract: We carried out a cross-sectional analysis of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations induced by diepoxybutane (DEB) in lymphocyte cultures from 58 normal blood donors. DEB-induced SCE frequencies were measured in all subjects and chromosomal aberrations in 18. Analysis of variance was used to assess the contributions of exposure to organic solvents, age, smoking history, alcohol and coffee consumption, and red and white blood cell counts to variations in DEB-induced SCEs. In 10 individuals, the epoxide-detoxifying enzyme, glutathione (GSH)-S-transferase mu, was also measured. We observed a bimodal distribution of DEB-induced SCEs in the study population. Approx. 24% of the individuals were twice as sensitive to the induction of SCEs by DEB as the remaining 76%. Lymphocytes from persons sensitive to SCE induction by DEB contained a 4.4-fold increase in the number of DEB-induced chromatid deletions and exchanges. Within sensitive and resistant groups, significant interindividual variations in DEB-induced SCE frequencies were noted. Cigarette smoking was weakly associated with lower SCE frequencies within each group. Genetic deficiency in GSH-S-transferase mu was not correlated with increased sensitivity to SCE induction by DEB. Sensitivity to induction of SCEs by DEB can be rapidly determined and may be a marker of sensitivity to the induction of genotoxicity by certain classes of mutagens.

PubMed ID: 2030706 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; Age Factors; Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects; Analysis of Variance; Cells, Cultured; Chromosome Aberrations*; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA/drug effects*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tolerance; Epoxy Compounds/toxicity*; Erythrocyte Count; Female; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocytes/drug effects; Male; Middle Aged; Mutagens*; Sister Chromatid Exchange/drug effects*; Smoking/adverse effects; Solvents/adverse effects

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